SENCER and KQED are partnering on a new project, Do Now U. Do Now U engages undergraduate students in online discussions about current scientific issues through the innovative use of social media.
This week’s Do Now U addresses the debate surrounding increasing federal minimum wage. Pennsylvania State University, Mont Alto students Samuel Baker, Annaleigh Benoit, Koran Dunbar, and Elizabeth Jones-Thomas created the post “Should the Federal Minimum Wage Be Increased?” to present both sides of the conversation.
In the post, the students discuss the arguments for raising the minimum wage as an anti-poverty measure, as well as the concerns for small businesses, and ultimately their employees, if the minimum wage were to be increased. They then invite other students, professors, and the public to weigh in on the debate.
Join the Conversation!
Do Now U is an excellent way to encourage students to flex their STEM communication muscles and engage in national conversations. Assign this or other Do Now U posts as a warm-up exercise, homework assignment, or as part of a class discussion. Students can comment directly on the post, or on Twitter using the hashtag #DoNowUWage.
Previous Do Now U posts discuss topics of health and wellness, environmental concerns, and more. Explore all Do Now U posts and involve your students in national conversations.
Photo credit: liz west (CC BY 2.0)